Ecclestone: British Grand Prix faces axe

FORMULA ONE supremo Bernie Ecclestone has issued an unequivocal warning the British Grand Prix will be axed from next year's Formula One calendar unless further cash is ploughed into improving Silverstone.

FORMULA ONE supremo Bernie Ecclestone has issued an unequivocal warning the British Grand Prix will be axed from next year's Formula One calendar unless further cash is ploughed into improving Silverstone.

Ecclestone has often made similar threats in the past, but he is now in a position of strength after advertising group Interpublic yesterday gave up their rights to stage the race.

Interpublic owned the rights until 2015, but have chosen to return them to Ecclestone's Formula One Administration company for £52million, cutting their losses as their projected costs for promoting the event for the next 11 years were £250million.

It means Ecclestone, a long-time critic of the Northamptonshire track, can now push for the changes he has often demanded from circuit owners, the British Racing Drivers' Club - or else the axe will fall.

Ecclestone is not sounding the death knell for Silverstone just yet, but his words are clear and categoric - shape up or be shipped out.

"I would welcome a new promoter coming forward and I would be delighted if the British Grand Prix goes ahead at Silverstone," said Ecclestone.

"It's the only possible circuit in the country (which can host the race), but it has to come up to scratch.

"We saw at the last race in Bahrain what facilities should be like. The standard has been raised by the new venues and Silverstone has to fall into line.

"BRDC has got a lot of land there and it's still receiving rent from Interpublic. On the back of that, they can raise the necessary cash and invest in the circuit.

"I have put a chunk of my own money in. All I have seen for it are new car parks. They are very necessary, but we need a new pit and paddock complex too.

"Unless the BRDC does this, there will not be another grand prix in the UK in 2005.